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The Rhode Island Supreme Court has ordered an attorney to devote 75 hours of community or pro bono community service as a disciplinary sanction.

The attorney had represented the client in a medical malpractice matter. He did not reply to discovery requests made on behalf of the doctor. The case was dismissed as to that defendant and the attorney failed to so advise the client. After he failed to respond to the hospital's discovery, he agreed to dismiss against that defendant (without his client's knowledge or consent) and the litigation ended.

The court held that an order of community and/or pro bono service served the purposes of professional discipline. (Mike Frisch)